General John D. Lavelle Restored to Rank

This is a discussion on General John D. Lavelle Restored to Rank within the Law Enforcement, Military & Homeland Security Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; In 1972 the US military accused four star USAF general John D. Lavelle of violating presidential restrictions on aerial bombing and of the falsification of ...

General John D. Lavelle Restored to Rank

In 1972 the US military accused four star USAF general John D. Lavelle of violating presidential restrictions on aerial bombing and of the falsification of records to cover up the bombing. Gen Lavelle was demoted to the rank of major general and he retired in disgrace.

Turns out that DOD was well aware that the increased bombing had been approved by president Richard M. Nixon. Gen Lavelle was a scapegoat for Nixon's duplicity.

President Obama recently restored the rank and good name of Gen Lavelle.

The story took a new twist in 2007 with the publication in Air Force Magazine of an article by a retired Air Force general, Aloysius Casey, and his son, Patrick Casey. They used declassified documents and transcripts of President Richard Nixon's Oval Office audio tapes to show that Nixon had secretly authorized more aggressive bombing in North Vietnam in February 1972.

They used declassified documents and transcripts of President Richard Nixon's Oval Office audio tapes to show that Nixon had secretly authorized more aggressive bombing in North Vietnam in February 1972.

Amazing there were some tapes that were not erased, good to see he has been exonerated and rank restored.